Mets terminate Polanco’s rehab assignment amid ankle concerns
Jorge Polanco’s minor league rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Syracuse has been halted due to ankle soreness, disrupting the New York Mets’ plans to activate him for their upcoming series in San Diego.
The New York Mets have ended first baseman Jorge Polanco’s minor league rehabilitation assignment effective Saturday, sending the player back to New York for further medical evaluation. The decision follows reports of ankle soreness that led to Polanco being scratched from a scheduled Triple-A Syracuse game, effectively halting his progression toward a major league return.
Polanco, who has been sidelined since mid-April with left Achilles bursitis, was initially expected to rejoin the major league roster during the team’s series in San Diego. However, the emergence of new symptoms has pushed that timeline back indefinitely. Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that the club would not see Polanco in San Diego, prioritising a cautious approach to the player’s recovery.
Mendoza outlined specific performance thresholds that must be met before Polanco can be activated from the injured list. The manager stated the club requires Polanco to complete at least four at-bats as a designated hitter and play seven innings on defence. “We felt like we needed to continue to build him up,” Mendoza said, emphasising the need to ensure the player is physically ready for the rigours of major league play.
The 32-year-old first baseman began his rehabilitation assignment on May 27, splitting time between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He played three games with each affiliate, recording a 2-for-12 batting line with one home run, three RBIs, and five walks. Despite this limited sample size, the new ankle issues have interrupted what was shaping up to be a successful return to form.
Polanco’s absence has been a significant factor for the Mets this season. Signed to a $40 million, two-year contract in December to replace Pete Alonso at first base, Polanco had previously dealt with a bruised right wrist that placed him on the 10-day injured list on April 18, retroactive to April 15. In his 14 games prior to that initial injury, he batted .179 with one home run, two RBIs, and a .532 OPS.
In a separate roster move announced on Saturday, the Mets released left-handed pitcher Anderson Severino. The team remains without Polanco as they conclude their series in San Diego, where they suffered a 3-2 loss to the Padres on Saturday. The exact nature of the ankle soreness and the revised timeline for Polanco’s return remain unclear pending further evaluation in New York.
